RT Mechanics, Liphook

[Engineer]

Touchy subject this but I tend to lean towards RT comments regarding modern service intervals, only because once out of warrenty the manufactures don't really want to know if you get my drift, but if your the customer always count your fingers after shaking hands on a service deal No pun intended.

[imac]

I'd still be interested in the things that you'd do on an 84k service on my S60 D5 that Volvo haven't.............

[AdamskiC70]

[QUOTE=RTMECH;145977]

Originally Posted by AdamskiC70

This makes me laugh Volvo have spent years developing their cars and improving the parts they use so the later cars can go 18k before needing a sevice so your saying you know better?????????

Hi Adamski

I have been a Volvo mechanic for over 14 years so i would say that i do know better than most people, as you can see from some of the other replys by people that actually work on cars in the trade that the modern service schedules for just about any make of car are a very odd way to service a car,

Eg When the 850 models where first brought out the first time in the cars life a fuel filter is changed every 70 k !,or an air filter is only changed every 40 k!
We decided many years ago to change all filters,plugs,and check all items on the car at every annual service,and have very few problems with the cars we maintain.

RT

As i work for a main dealer i do know the service schedules. So you're saying you change items that don't need changing i.e plugs every year not 36k which they should be????????????

[the great one]

[QUOTE=AdamskiC70;146064]

Originally Posted by RTMECH

As i work for a main dealer i do know the service schedules. So you're saying you change items that don't need changing i.e plugs every year not 36k which they should be????????????

perhaps rt are fitting inferior parts to the ones volvo use so they need changing more often???

[TJMurphy]

I was always under the impression that the company car market in this country was exerting strong pressure on the car makers to extend the service intervals on the cars. They only need to keep the car going for 3 / 4 years and then it's used up, sent to auction and buyer beware. They get away with this because cars are better made now (manufacturing tolerances I mean) and the quality of oils is better.

Otherwise how do you reconcile the service intervals in this country with those in other countrys, for example in the US don't they still do oil changes every 6,000 miles?

Above may all be a load of hooey but I'm sure I read it somewhere.

Tony

PS RTMech - how familiar are you with the newer S60s or do you concentrate on the 850s? (I ask from a purely ulterior motive as I have one that will need an 84k service in a couple of months).

[arbee]

i think the point is - RT claim, and I'd tend to agree, that volvo (and many other manufacturers) have service intervals for certain things that are just to long. You say 'they dont need changing', i'd say i'it would be beneficial to change earlier!

How many turbo owners like to change their oil at half intervals? I know i do!

[the great one]

Originally Posted by arbee

i think the point is - RT claim, and I'd tend to agree, that volvo (and many other manufacturers) have service intervals for certain things that are just to long. You say 'they dont need changing', i'd say i'it would be beneficial to change earlier!

How many turbo owners like to change their oil at half intervals? I know i do!

so if you went to the main dealer and they said we changed every serviceable part on your car you owe us ££££ you would be happy and not ask any question why they changed the parts when they dont need changing? why do they bother making platinum plugs to last so long and oils?

[pyaap]

Originally Posted by arbee

i think the point is - RT claim, and I'd tend to agree, that volvo (and many other manufacturers) have service intervals for certain things that are just to long. You say 'they dont need changing', i'd say i'it would be beneficial to change earlier!

How many turbo owners like to change their oil at half intervals? I know i do!

I agree fundamentally with your point Arbee, but I also do take on board what AdamskiC70 is saying. There are some items which could do with being replaced earlier than Volvo deem necessary (e.g. fuel filter). But then again, there are some items which will undoubtedly last more than a year (e.g. plugs). I think I too might be just a little unerved if the plugs (or for that matter, if all consumables) were changed on a yearly basis, resulting in an increased servicing cost (incl labour), when I know that its totally unecessary for some, especially if you're using quality parts (e.g. OEM).

I, for one, get most of my OEM servicing parts from the Far East where they usually cost less than half what they do here, hence I don't mind changing them frequently. I think if I was forced to change parts at the costs at which they are charged here, I would definitely have to be a little more selective.

[AdamskiC70]

it just seems an easy way to make money on parts

[Oli]

Originally Posted by RTMECH

Hi what you seem to forget is that we will service the car the correct way and not the volvo way ! You cannot make comments like this as you are not comparing a like for like service.The volvo service schedule is a joke as to what is changed/not changed.

We do the job correctly and never have complaints apart from you !

I don't think Darren/VolvoT5 was complaining, just commenting that he could save £50 on a service. However, as you say quite rightly state, you've got to compare apples.

Maybe you should post in the commercial forum what you offer over and above the standard service schedule. I'm sure many would be interested, especially as you've received a lot of compliments on this thread.

By the way, how have you balanced your brakes (330mm front and back) on your rather nice looking T5R? Perhaps you could comment on the Volvo Upgrade Brake thread.

ATB

Oli